Microbes are the oldest form of life on earth

There are microbes everywhere. Your body contains 10 times more microbes than human cells. Each of us has a microbiome: our own community of trillions of single cell, living organisms; an integral part of us. As we look after it, it looks after us.

Most microbes are helpful and life enhancing; very few cause disease. In trying to kill the bad ones, we can strengthen them so they become REALLY bad ones – that can make our environment and us sick.

Microbes complete the cycle of life through the process of fermentation and they are powerful antioxidants. They break down organic waste in the cycle of life and use the remaining minerals and nutrients for regeneration.

Healthy biomes contain a huge variety of microbes doing thousands of different jobs, like breaking down food in the gut, delivering calcium and vital nutrients to where they are needed, and generally boosting our health and that of our soils, plants and animals.

There are three primary types of microbes in our brews: lactobacilli, photosynthetic bacteria and yeasts. These three types living in a balanced population can restore health in any environment.

Photosynthetic Bacteria are a group of independent, self-supporting microbes, synthesising amino acids, nucleic acids, bioactive substances and sugars, all of which support healthy human, plant and animal growth. They use sunlight and soil heat as sources of energy.

Yeasts synthesise microbial and other useful substances needed for plant growth from the amino acids and sugars secreted by photosynthetic bacteria, organic matter and plant roots. Bioactive substances such as hormones and enzymes produced by yeasts promote active cell and root division and provide food for effective microbes such as lactobacilli.

Lactobacilli break down complex produce lactic acid from the sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose), produced by photosynthetic bacteria and yeast. Lactic acid is a strong sterilising compound that suppresses harmful microbes and aids the decomposition of organic matter (such as lignin and cellulose) and other materials.

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How Microbes Work

Microbes have been around for millions of years and successfully colonised every corner of the earth and every creature on it. Here are four fundamental principles that are the heart of their achievement.

In any environment only around 5% of microbes are beneficial or regenerative to life, and around 5% are detrimental or degenerative to life and the remaining majority are simply opportunistic. The opportunistic microbes support whichever microbes are dominant.

If the degenerative microbes become dominant, the opportunistic ones will gravitate towards them so there is a negative effect, for example a sudden bout of food poisoning, a tummy bug or a plant pest.

If the regenerative microbes are dominant then the opportunistic ones will support the positive effects. Using products that contain beneficial microbes boosts the numbers of regenerative microbes so that the detrimental ones do not have the chance to flourish.

All natural environments have a cycle of life and death, and microbes are important at every step. They are the building blocks of life. They break down organic matter so it can be used again for regenerating life. Microbes are good at completing the cycle, a skill we humans have not mastered.

The healthy breakdown of organic matter is critical in the cycle of life process. This can happen in two ways: putrefaction or fermentation. In putrefaction matter is broken down, often without the presence of oxygen, producing a rotting smell due to toxic gases like methane and ammonia being released.

In fermentation matter is broken down into its constituent parts, mostly carbohydrates, nitrates and phosphates, which are then readily available for other organisms to use. Fermentation can take place with or without oxygen.

The presence of free radicals, or unstable molecules, subjects our cells to continuous damage, known as oxidation. This process makes us age, converts healthy cells into cancerous ones, elevates the blood pressure, hardens the arteries, promotes inflammation in arthritis and asthma, and causes infertility. Oxidation is exacerbated by pollution and our increasing use of chemicals.

Antioxidants keep us healthy by delaying or preventing cell damage. Antioxidants are found in a variety of foods including Bio-Live and bring health benefits by neutralising free radicals and protecting cell stability.

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